Mountain Views News          Saturday, June 12, 2010

10 

OPINION

 Mountain Views News Saturday, June 12, 2010

My Turn


HAIL Hamilton

STUART TOLCHIN 

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Mexico is Angry 
With Arizona!

I ran across this May 19 posting and 
had to share it with you.

“Three cheers for Arizona!

The shoe is on the other foot and Mexicans from the State of Sonora, 
across the border from Arizona, don’t like it. Can you believe 
the nerve of these people? It’s almost funny. 

 The State of Sonora is angry at the influx of illegal immigrants 
in Arizona returning to Mexico. A delegation of nine state legislators 
was in Tucson on Tuesday to complain about Arizona’s 
crackdown illegals from Mexico.

 At a news conference, the legislators said Sonora, Arizona’s 
southern neighbor, made up of mostly small towns, cannot handle 
the demand for housing, jobs and schools that it will face as 
Mexican workers return to their hometowns from the USA without 
jobs or money. 

 It seems that many Mexican are returning to their hometowns 
and the officials in the Sonora state government are ticked off. 
The legislators said the that Arizona’s new Employer Sanctions 
Law will have a devastating effect on the Mexican state.

 The Arizona law, which took effect Jan. 1, punishes Arizona employers 
who knowingly hire individuals without valid legal documents 
to work in the United States. Penalties include suspension 
of, or loss of their business license.

 The Mexican legislators are angry because their own citizens 
are returning to their hometowns, placing a burden on THEIR 
state government. ‘How can Arizona pass a law like this?’ asked 
Sonora Rep. Leticia Amparano-Gamez, who represents Nogales.

 There is not one person living in sonora who does not have a 
friend or relative working in Arizona,” she said, speaking in 
Spanish. “Mexico is not prepared for this, for the tremendous 
problems it will face as more and more Mexicans working in Arizona 
and who are sending money to their families return to their 
hometowns in Sonora without jobs,’ she said.

 We are one family, socially and economically,” she said of the 
people of Sonora and Arizona.

Wrong!

The United states is a sovereign nation, not a subsidiary of Mexico, 
and its taxpayers are not responsible for the welfare of Mexico’s 
citizens. It’s time for the Mexican government, and its citizens, to 
stop relying on the United States and start taking care of its/their 
own needs. Too bad that other states within the USA--particularly 
California, New Mexico and Texas--don’t pass a law just like 
that passed by Arizona. 

Maybe that’s the answer, since our own Congress will do nothing!

Oh, and another thing I found....

New Immigration Laws:

1. There will be no special bilingual programs in schools.

2. All ballots will be in this nation’s language.

3. All government business will be conducted in our language.

4. Non-residents will NOT have the right to vote no matter how long they 
are here.

5. Non-native-born citizens will NEVER be able to hold political office.

6. Foreigners will not be a burden to the taxpayers. No welfare, no food 
stamps, no health care, or other public assistance. anyone who is a burden 
will be deported.

7. Foreigners can invest can invest in this country, but it must be an 
amount at least 40,000 times the daily minimum wage.

8. If foreigners come here and buy land... options will be restricted. Certain 
parcels including waterfront property are reserved for citizens naturally 
born in this country.

9. foreigners may have no protests; no demonstrations, no waiving of a foreign 
flag, no political organizing, no bad-mouthing our president or his 
policies. These will lead to deportation.

10. If you come to this country illegally, you will be actively hunted 
and when caught, sent to jail until your deportation can be arranged. All 
assets will be taken from you.

Too Strict?

The above laws are the current immigration laws of...“MEXICO!”

 A couple of things not mentioned in the posting: Mexican law 
mandates that federal, local and municipal police cooperate with 
federal immigration authorities in the arrests of illegal immigrants.

In Mexico illegal immigration is a felony, punishable by up to 
two years in prison. Immigrants who are deported and attempt 
to re-enter can be imprisoned for 10 years. Visa violators can be 
sentenced to six-year terms. Mexicans who help illegal immigrants 
are considered criminals.

 Mexican authorities can deport foreigners who are deemed 
detrimental to “economic or national interests,” violate Mexican 
law, are not “physically or mentally healthy” or lack the “necessary 
funds for their sustenance” and for their dependents.

If Mexico can protect itself against illegal immigrants, why can’t 
Arizona? 

 Well, I think it was just announced that the turnout for the California 
Primary elections today were the lowest in history. Really, it’s no surprise 
that people have not bothered to vote. After all things are going so well in 
California it’s clear that our system is working so well that there is no need 
for individual voters to unnecessarily concern ourselves with the results—
WE ARE IN GOOD HANDS. Aren’t we???

 No, I’m afraid not! Everything is falling apart and there is a great need for 
responsible, competent, capable leadership. This particular California Republican Primary 
has presented the indifferent electorate with two extraordinarily wealthy candidates. As 
reported on television news, the winning candidate spent something like $80,000,000 (that’s 
80 million dollars) on her own election campaign. Remember, this is only the warm-up. 
She’ll probably have to spend even more in the general election campaign. I find the whole 
process obscene. Great individual wealth has always seemed like a mistake, a flaw in the 
system. It reminds me of the discussions that would take place in my Legal Ethics classes. 
(No, that is not an oxymoron - there really is something called Legal Ethics.) In class 
someone would inevitably say they did not understand how a lawyer could responsibly 
defend a person who was guilty. Some smart guy would respond and say that defending 
the guilty was the job of the defense attorney and, after all, such defense was necessary in 
order for the advocacy system to function. 

 At this point I would break into the conversation and say something like, “No, I don’t 
think the job of any attorney is to defend the guilty. In fact during a trial, prior to a verdict, 
there are no guilty parties, as everyone is presumed to be innocent. What is going on instead 
is that the Defense Attorney is Defending the Constitution and is attempting to ensure that 
the Constitution is being properly followed in this one particular case. The particular 
Defendant, be he or she later found guilty or innocent is the unintended beneficiary of the 
attorneys’ efforts.” 

 Well, if the Defendant is the unintended beneficiary, then who is the INTENDED 
BENEFICIARY? Answer- ready? It’s us - The People of the United States. Remember 
those first words in the preamble to the United States Constitution:

 WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE 
PERFECT UNION, ESTABLISH JUSTICE (perhaps you have the rest memorized)

 Yes, the Constitution was created to protect us, all of us. If a person who has violated 
the law and committed a crime but escapes punishment, it is a flaw in the system but 
a necessary and foreseen flaw. The non-convicted Defendant is not the victor, it is the 
Constitution that is victorious. Guaranteeing that our legal process complies with 
Constitutional requirements is of such value to the entire nation that it trumps the need to 
punish any potentially guilty offender. 

 Similarly, our financial system is based upon the assumption that human greed will 
be the spark that continually fuels the engine of industry in our country. Enterprising 
individuals (and Corporations, I guess) acting in their own individual interest will provide 
jobs and goods and services that will benefit the rest of us. That’s the theory. All of us will 
befit from a strong economy. We are all the intended beneficiaries of this system. But there 
is an inevitable flaw in this system too. Certain individuals or corporations may gain so 
much wealth and consequent power that they will be able to unfairly deprive the rest of us 
from receiving the benefits to which we are entitled. Who or what is there to protect us? 
Of course it’s our old friend, the Constitution. And who enforces the Constitution-- our 
elected representatives and Judges - that’s who.

 You see the problem, I’m sure. The Constitution is there to protect all of us but, in order 
to benefit from these protections we, the general public have to be extremely vigilant as to 
what is really going on. It’s tough, because every day, those with money and power make 
sure that disinformation and diversions are disseminated to distract the population from 
what is really going on. I hope people begin to notice, but from the minimal participation 
in this latest primary it seems like most folk are too distracted to care. Maybe people have 
become fatalistic and the think that the catastrophic end is inevitable and there’s no use 
fighting it. (The recent inability to halt the oil flow seems to demonstrate the impotency of 
governments to deal with catastrophe.)

 Well, I would like to write more about the need to remain vigilant and concerned but 
I’ve got to watch the end of the Lakers game. After all, the true purpose of the game is to 
entertain us, isn’t it?

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RICH Johnson

Quote This!

 
If you’ve spotted me in Fresco’s Family 
Restaurant lately, you’ve probably seen me 
sitting across from a wonderfully brilliant, witty 
and not-bad-to-look-at blonde lady. After the 
initial shock (and stupor) of wondering what 
such a chic, sophisticated gal would be doing 
sitting across from me, you would notice we 
each had our laptops open. 

 The truth be known my friend’s name is Lisa Bowman. She and 
I have become writing partners and our first project is a book on 
funny motivational quotes. Pardon the pun but we have shelved the 
written word for now, and jumped into the 21st century compiling 
the book to be first released in App form for the IPhone. If you are 
unfamiliar with the term “app” it is simply short for “application.” 
If you are not sure what an IPhone is, it’s probably because IPhone’s 
do not work well (if at all) in the Sierra Madre and surrounding 
areas. At least, the telephone part.

 People with IPhones can buy from thousands of little “apps” for 
their phone. Many are free, but most are typically $1-$3 dollars 
each. Apps have a variety of functions. Many of them are little video 
games. But, you can also get recipe apps, a guide to tying knots app, 
an app that helps you identify birds in your backyard. There’s even 
an app that will help you tune your guitar. The list goes on and on. 

 Lisa and my app will offer up motivational and inspirational 
quotes. Many, not all, with a humorous edge offered in a variety of 
categories such as Motivate Me, Make Me Laugh, I’m Outta Whack 
and so on. 

 No, this is not a commercial (at least not yet.) It’s a way for me to 
segue into some of the funniest quotes we’ve compiled. I hope you 
enjoy them.

 “Before I speak, I have something important to say.” Groucho 
Marx

 “I didn’t like the play, but then I saw it under adverse conditions. 
The curtain was up.” Groucho Marx

 “From the moment I picked up your book until I laid it down I was 
convulsed with laughter. Someday I intend reading it.” Groucho 
Marx

 “If you’re not fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with 
enthusiasm.” Vince Lombardi

 “If Patrick Henry thought taxation without representation was 
bad, he should see it with representation.” Handy News

 “A young man may have more money than brains, but not for 
long!” Unknown

 “If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?” Abraham 
Lincoln

 “In Bible times, a man could have as many wives as he could afford. 
Just like today.” Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby)

 “T••he reason grandparents and grandchildren get along so well is 
they share a common enemy.” Sam Levenson

 And maybe the most profound and succinct quote of all time. We 
can learn from our canine friends as we read this:

“Wag more, bark less.” Have a good week.


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